Jamie Foxx was hospitalized last month after experiencing a “medical complication.” Tabloids, as well as mainstream news outlets, quickly picked up on the story and speculation began about what happened to him, and why more information was not revealed.
To that I say: Why is there an expectation that Jamie Foxx—or his loved ones—share anything about his health or well-being? Isn’t there plenty of other news out there to cover? Kudos to him for demanding his privacy and kudos to his inner circle and the healthcare teams/facilities he’s engaging with for respecting his preferences. No one owes us an explanation of their health, nor, for the most part, do they have any obligation to disclose personal health information Not people in the public sphere, not your friends, not your coworkers. No one.
That doesn’t mean people who do share information about their health are doing anything wrong. We often spotlight people who have shared publicly, and we appreciate it when someone in the public sphere discloses as it can help change perceptions and stigma. But it is critical that sharing is a choice they made, for themselves, not something decided for them.
As you may have noticed if you’ve engaged with Cancer and Careers in any way, we take conversations about disclosure and privacy very seriously. It is our goal to help people think through their personal preferences, their work environment, their needs, any benefits to sharing, etc. and then make an informed decision. The truth is disclosure sits on a spectrum and people’s feelings and needs may, and often do, evolve over time. You can always share more, but you can’t share less. That is why we want our community to understand they can have control of their story—whether they keep their diagnosis and medical information within a close circle, or disclose widely.
I hope everyone will leave Jamie Foxx alone and respect his decision to keep his health circumstances—whatever they may be—private, and maybe even learn a larger lesson about what we expect to be privy to. In moments like these, I always think about Chadwick Boseman, the most public of figures, at the height of his fame choosing not to disclose to the press, or even close colleagues. I wrote about Boseman and his decision in 2020 when news of his passing and posthumous disclosure broke, and my feelings haven’t changed since then. “Every day, CAC is trying to empower people to understand their options and think through their preferences so they can control their own story and define their own path.” That was true in 2020 and remains true in 2023.
For more information on disclosure, check out: